To Hire an SEO Expert or Train My VA: A small business Dilemma
As a small business owner navigating the world of Digital Marketing, I’ve often found myself grappling with a pivotal question: Should I engage a dedicated SEO specialist or invest the time to train my virtual assistant (VA) in Search Engine Optimization?
Initially, I brought a VA on board who claimed a basic understanding of SEO. While she identified herself as a “jack of all trades,” I valued her honesty and the diverse skill set she brings to the table. She has taken on several tasks, including Web Design and content creation for social media and blog posts, and undoubtedly made some commendable changes to our website.
However, despite her efforts, I’ve noticed that our online visibility isn’t improving as much as I had hoped. While I appreciate the work she has done, my concern about low traffic and a lack of leads is growing. I’ve been considering whether bringing in a Google seo expert or a Google Ads consultant might be a worthwhile investment. Though hiring these professionals entails a cost—particularly for ads—I believe that starting with contractual arrangements could be beneficial. This would allow my VA to learn from the specialists, ensuring that the maintenance and ongoing management could eventually fall to her or to me.
Lately, I’ve recognized that my VA has been less communicative than she was in the early stages of our collaboration. It’s sparked a desire within me to reevaluate our approach and make necessary adjustments to steer our efforts in the right direction. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what would you recommend?
Update: My Path Forward
I sincerely appreciate all the feedback! Many have suggested the right course of action: hire a specialist to kick things off and have my VA shadow them during the training process. After discussing with a few professionals, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be partnering with Hatch and Vox to jumpstart our seo strategy. Here’s to pushing our business forward!
2 responses to “Is hiring an SEO expert better or training my VA for SEO?”
Deciding whether to hire an SEO specialist or train your virtual assistant (VA) for SEO is a significant business decision that can impact your online visibility and growth potential. Given your current situation, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each approach carefully.
The Value of a Specialist
Deep Expertise: An SEO specialist brings a wealth of experience and the most current knowledge of seo trends, algorithm changes, and tactical strategies. They not only understand the technical aspects of seo, such as on-page and off-page factors, but they are also skilled at analyzing data to make informed decisions that can significantly enhance your digital presence.
Time-Efficiency: With a specialist, you can delegate seo tasks entirely, freeing up your resources to focus on other vital areas of your business. This can be particularly beneficial if your VA’s workload is already heavy with tasks like Web Design and content creation, where their skills may be more effectively utilized.
Immediate Impact: Hiring an experienced SEO expert can lead to quicker and more effective improvements in your search engine rankings and traffic. They have the tools and methodologies that are often not accessible to someone who is still learning the ropes of SEO.
Training Your VA
Cost-Effectiveness: Training your existing VA might be more budget-friendly in the long run. Investing in courses or mentorship for your VA could result in an employee who is not only well-versed in SEO but also understands your business and its unique needs.
Consistency in Branding: Your VA already has a grasp of your brand’s voice and objectives, which makes them an ideal candidate for SEO training. This familiarity can lead to more cohesive content marketing efforts that align with your overall branding strategy.
Long-Term Growth: By enhancing your VA’s SEO skills, you build internal capabilities that can adapt and grow alongside your business. As your VA becomes more proficient, they can integrate SEO practices into other areas of your operations, such as social media and Web Design, leading to a more holistic Digital Marketing approach.
A Balanced Approach
Given your situation and the feedback you’ve received, it makes sense to pursue a hybrid approach:
Hiring a Specialist Temporarily: Engage an SEO expert on a contract basis. This expert can perform an initial audit, develop a comprehensive SEO strategy, and implement targeted improvements. Be sure to communicate your goals clearly and ask for them to provide a training component for your VA. This could be through direct collaboration or structured sessions.
Structured Learning for Your VA: Encourage your VA to shadow the specialist and take part in SEO training programs simultaneously. This will ensure that your VA gains invaluable insight into the application of SEO strategies in real-world scenarios.
Regular Check-ins: Establish regular communication channels with your VA. If she’s not reaching out as often, consider having weekly or biweekly catch-ups to discuss progress and challenges. This will help keep motivation high and also foster a sense of teamwork in executing your SEO strategy.
Utilizing Tools and Resources: Introduce your VA to tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Ahrefs. Investing in these tools can empower your VA to analyze performance metrics, track progress, and make data-driven adjustments in collaboration with the specialist.
Conclusion
Ultimately, striking a balance between hiring an SEO specialist for immediate needs and training your VA for long-term growth can yield the best results. This strategy not only enhances your Digital Marketing capability but also ensures your business is on the right trajectory for sustainable growth. Always monitor performance through analytics, adjust strategies accordingly, and keep the lines of communication open to foster collaboration and continuous learning within your team. Good luck with your partnership with Hatch and Vox; it sounds like a promising step forward!
Congratulations on your decision to partner with Hatch and Vox! It’s exciting to hear that you’re taking proactive steps to enhance your SEO strategy. In the Digital Marketing realm, especially for small businesses, having a strong SEO foundation is crucial for improving visibility and attracting quality leads.
One additional consideration as you move forward is the importance of ongoing communication and feedback loops between your new SEO experts and your VA. As she shadows them and learns about seo best practices, it might be beneficial to establish a regular check-in schedule. This way, she can clarify doubts, share observations, and slowly integrate her understanding into actionable tasks for your business.
Moreover, documenting the processes and strategies employed during this phase could create a valuable resource for your team. As your VA becomes more confident in her seo skills, these resources can serve as a reference point, enabling her to work independently and adapt to future seo changes.
Lastly, keep an eye on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of your newfound strategies. This data will not only inform you of progress but also provide your VA with tangible insights and successes that can further motivate her learning journey. Best of luck, and I look forward to seeing how your visibility improves!